Bucs bring Lovie Smith back to Tampa

this is a discussion within the NFL Community Forum; During the lowest points of the regular season in Tampa Bay, Buccaneers fans wanted the team to fire Greg Schiano and immediately hire Lovie Smith.
They have gotten their wish, albeit belatedly.
Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports that Lovie ...

During the lowest points of the regular season in Tampa Bay, Buccaneers fans wanted the team to fire Greg Schiano and immediately hire Lovie Smith.

They have gotten their wish, albeit belatedly.

Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports that Lovie Smith will become the next head coach of the Buccaneers, and that the two sides are finalizing the terms of a contract.

Smith served as linebackers coach in Tampa from 1996 through 2000, before becoming the Ramsí defensive coordinator in 2001. Three years later, the Bears hired Smith to be the teamís head coach, where he served for nine seasons.

The move comes only two days after the Buccaneers fired Greg Schiano. Because Smith is a minority candidate, the Bucs were able to move swiftly, hiring Smith without interviewing any other candidates.

There had been speculation that the Buccaneers also will bring back former G.M. Rich McKay. Before filling that spot, however, at least one minority candidate for the G.M. position must be interviewed.

The decision to hire Smith before hiring a G.M. will raise questions regarding whether Smith or the General Manager will have final say over the roster and the draft. During Smithís time in Chicago, former G.M. Jerry Angelo and then G.M. Phil Emery held those powers.

During the lowest points of the regular season in Tampa Bay, Buccaneers fans wanted the team to fire Greg Schiano and immediately hire Lovie Smith.

They have gotten their wish, albeit belatedly.

Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports that Lovie Smith will become the next head coach of the Buccaneers, and that the two sides are finalizing the terms of a contract.

Smith served as linebackers coach in Tampa from 1996 through 2000, before becoming the Ramsí defensive coordinator in 2001. Three years later, the Bears hired Smith to be the teamís head coach, where he served for nine seasons.

The move comes only two days after the Buccaneers fired Greg Schiano. Because Smith is a minority candidate, the Bucs were able to move swiftly, hiring Smith without interviewing any other candidates.

There had been speculation that the Buccaneers also will bring back former G.M. Rich McKay. Before filling that spot, however, at least one minority candidate for the G.M. position must be interviewed.

The decision to hire Smith before hiring a G.M. will raise questions regarding whether Smith or the General Manager will have final say over the roster and the draft. During Smithís time in Chicago, former G.M. Jerry Angelo and then G.M. Phil Emery held those powers.

No GM in place ... kinda strange to hire a coach sans GM. While Lovie had a decent track record in Chicago, that does not necessarily translate to instant success with the Bucs. They have tremendous cap issues with Revis and others. They will be tough nevertheless, IMHO.

IMO, it will have a positive affect in that the team will be relieved to be rid of Schiano, but I don't think it will translate into the championships Tampa is hoping for.

Lovie is a competent NFL H/C, but he's average and his teams go up/down and .500 overall. Having him in the Division may mean trouble for Car/Atl, but Payton should be able to out coach Lovie on any given Sunday, now that Smith doesn't have the weather in Chicago to back him up, .

That was a quick hire. He's already hiring coordinators. Bucs satisfied the Rooney rule. But I just wonder if there is such a a thing as a Reverse Rooney Rule. Not sure the Bucs interviewed anybody else.